Out of the Flames (ePub)

Out of the Flames charts, with lyricism and moving honesty, the remarkable triumph over tragedy of one ordinary man, living through extraordinary times. On the 7th December 1971, Philip Coogan's life changed overnight when a sectarian bomb destroyed his thriving garage business in the town of Donaghadee. Determined to rebuild, Philip was frustrated at every turn by the cold shoulders of planning authorities and those who vowed they'd see him 'run out of town'. Despite some help from an unexpected quarter - the Reverend Ian Paisley - there seemed to be no way forward in an increasingly suspicious and hostile community. As the troubles intensified, repeated attempts were made on Philip's life, and he and his young family fled across the border to the Republic, renting a damp and dilapidated cottage in Roscommon. Struggling to make ends meet, while reliving the horror of past events, Philip's health deteriorated as he suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder and other related illnesses. Desperate for a better life for their three children, Philip and his wife planned to emigrate, but with no income, nor compensation for his injuries, it proved impossible. The final straw came with a risible offer of for the site of his former business from the local government in the North. Feeling defrauded and conspired against, Philip became increasingly angry and paranoid, and finally was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Drugged and violently humiliated, he merged a broken man and it seemed that Philip's life, in any meaningful sense, was over. What could possibly save him?A visit to Knock Holy Shrine was the turning point. Philip managed to wean himself off anti-depressant drugs, trained and qualified as a Healer, and set himself to work in this capacity, volunteering locally via the Church and at Knock.